Firstly, it is important to acknowledge that regardless of breed or the size of your dog he can get jealous if you bring a new baby into the family. Your furry family member is even more likely to get jealous if he is male, and the chances also increase even more if your dog has not been neutered or spayed.
Use praise and treats to help the dog associate the baby with good things. Don't reward attention-seeking behaviour like barking, jumping and begging. Include the dog in walks and playtime with baby. Let the dog get used to the baby gradually and at her own pace.
This usually happens when a child is born into a family that already owns a dog, who had before received all of the attention. We as humans understand that a newborn requires a lot of attention, and parents are going to have less time to devote to the dog.
Dogs may get jealous because they don't want to lose your attention and affection to someone else. Training, playing with your dog one-on-one, and rewarding good behavior can all make a difference.
Indications that your dog is feeling jealousy may include whining or vocalizations when you show affection for another animal or a person, pushing another animal out of the way to get attention for themselves, refusal to obey, and sometimes even signs of depression and a loss of appetite.
Pugs are playful, laid-back, and loyal. They love to hang around with their owners and be the center of attention. Pugs will get jealous whenever the attention shifts to another pet for too long. Nevertheless, this breed is far from problematic when given enough attention.
Is a Dog More Protective of Female Keepers? This isn't a general rule, but some pets are more likely to exhibit protective behavior with female keepers. This is because women generally have a softer voice and are gentler whenever they care for the dog.
Dogs are extremely loyal members of the family and just like humans they can experience a variety of different emotions - including jealousy. This can especially be the case when someone new becomes a member of the family, such as a newborn baby and seems to get all the attention and affection.
It is rather an innate response triggered by the dog's self-defense system. The dog may feel alarmed, and he may go into fight-or-flight mode, but since a hug restrains him, he may more likely go into fight mode and react aggressively by giving a warning growl.
Sometimes your dog's thought process could involve seeing you happy doing something like hugging your kids and wanting to be involved in the hug fest. Feeling insecure is often the root of this behavior in dogs. It might be difficult to believe, but dogs have feelings too.
A dog that's concerned about the proximity of kids might keep his tail tucked and have his ears plastered against his head. He might shake off as if he's wet, lick his lips or mouth area repeatedly—as if tasting the air—yawn frequently, or even growl quietly.
A lack of early socialization: Dogs who aren't exposed to children as puppies may become fearful when they meet them later in life. When they encounter children for the first time as adult dogs, they may be extremely frightened by the unfamiliar size, smells, noises, and movements of children.
It is very normal for dogs to be scared of children or one particular child, especially if they have not been raised with children or have been teased by them in the past.
Jealous or possessive behavior can be changed once you know why your dog is acting a certain way. Both behaviors can turn into aggression if they're not addressed and corrected. Change is not in a dog's vocabulary and they prefer nothing changes in their lives.
Children may behave inappropriately towards dogs by pulling their tails, hair or ears. Most dog aggression towards children is fear based, though many dogs will also show aspects of food, possessive and territorial aggression as well.
So, even though it may look cute, a dog licking a baby's face should not be allowed. In fact, I don't recommend it even for healthy adults. If your dog likes to give the adults in the family “kisses,” let them lick your hand and then immediately wash your hand thoroughly afterward.
In some cases, you may have to rehome your dog to keep your kids safe. However, growling is not necessarily a sign that your dog will become a danger to your family. You and your kids can learn about how dogs communicate to prevent tense situations from happening.
A common situation in which the dog may growl at a child is when the child tries to take something from the dog, particularly a food item. Some dogs will growl if a child even approaches the dog's food bowl.
A simple test you can try is to remove the child from the situation and then see if the dog comes back to the child for more attention. This will tell you if the dog was enjoying the interaction (comes back for more), or just tolerating it (stays away, or leaves the scene).
So, yes, dogs do view children differently than adults, and that means you need to keep an eye on their interactions. Interestingly, if you as an adult, are also demonstrating unpredictable over energetic and overly emotional behavior, you too can also find that your dog does not “listen” very well to you!
A dog's number one priority at bedtime is comfort and security. So, if they're choosing to sleep in the same space as you, it's a big sign that they trust you. "Sleeping with the owner in the same room helps minimize fear, anxiety and stress," said Christman.
Usually, female dogs are smaller in size and warmer in behavior. There are, however, some male dogs that are just as loving as female dogs. Several dog trainers and breeders recommend a female dog for homes with young children.
Licking is a natural and instinctive behaviour to dogs. For them it's a way of grooming, bonding, and expressing themselves. Your dog may lick you to say they love you, to get your attention, to help soothe themselves if they're stressed, to show empathy or because you taste good to them!